Jangan boikot Hari Kebangsaan kerana isu Rohingya, kata Khaled

Menteri Pertahanan Khaled Nordin has cautioned Malaysian citizens not to boycott National Day celebrations due to concerns over the Rohingya situation. Speaking at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Nordin emphasized that National Day should not be based on emotions or sentiments regarding specific issues within the country. He stressed that Malaysia is the blood-soaked land and our home, and we will not stop guarding and beautifying our home simply because we disagree with the presence of those we did not invite.

Instead, turn this opportunity into a display of love for our nation. Patriotism at its finest will serve as a signal to all parties, both locally and internationally, that the Malaysian people will not allow their homeland to become a battlefield or a political and divisive arena for any party. Social media users have been calling for a boycott of National Day celebrations or carrying placards with any rant or demands related to the Rohingya issue, which Nordin said Malaysia does not allow to be a sanctuary for those who use force and reject peace processes in southern Thailand.

The government remains committed to supporting peace efforts in southern Thailand. Malaysia will provide all assistance to Thai authorities to prevent similar incidents from occurring here, and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) will strengthen border control and monitoring along the Malaysia- Thailand border to ensure no incursions take place.

He reiterated that the ATM has proposed a name to the Prime Minister as a facilitator for peace talks in southern Thailand, following the recent tenure of Rabin Basir as the facilitator. Last Saturday, reports indicated arson incidents in Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala, targeting government buildings, shops, vehicles, and utility poles.

At least three people were injured in Narathiwat, where over 50 incidents were reported across the three regions over the weekend, including bomb explosions and burning of local government offices.